Liquid Bag Case Guide Notch Prevents Nozzle Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gravity-based fluid dispensing systems face issues with liquid bag stability and drainage, leading to waste due to unreliable collapse of bag material, which blocks the outlet and traps product, especially in the last 500 mL, causing users to prematurely replace bags.
Innovation Solution
A product case with a bag supporter featuring a guide notch, slot, and removable retaining wall that constrains the fluid bag, minimizing material coverage of the outlet nozzle and maintaining repeatable flow characteristics by compressing and frictionally retaining the bag material, ensuring consistent drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the liquid bag drains completely, then all liquid can be dispensed, but the loose bag material collapses onto the outlet and blocks drainage
Solution Approach 1:
A guide notch is introduced as an intermediary structure between the bag material and the outlet. This notch channels and directs the collapsing bag material away from the outlet path, preventing blockage while allowing complete drainage of the liquid contents.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet area is segmented from the general bag collapse zone by creating a dedicated guide notch. This segmentation isolates the outlet from the chaotic movement of collapsing bag material, ensuring reliable drainage even as the bag empties.
2Volume of stationary object
If a smaller liquid bag is used in a product case configured for a larger bag, then space is saved, but the bag material stretches out and blocks the outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The guide notch serves as a mediator that accommodates bags of varying sizes. Whether the bag is small or large, the notch provides a consistent pathway that directs material away from the outlet, ensuring reliable drainage across different bag volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide notch design allows the system to handle parameter changes in bag size. The geometric features of the notch adapt to different bag dimensions while maintaining the same functional outcome of preventing outlet blockage.
3Device complexity
If the bag material is allowed to collapse freely, then the bag structure is simple, but the material creates folds or pockets where product can be trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The guide notch acts as an intermediary that guides collapsing material into a controlled path. This prevents the formation of random folds and pockets that would trap product, while requiring minimal modification to the bag structure itself.
4Reliability
If special fold lines are formed in the bag, then the bag structure is improved, but the material still does not collapse reliably in the same direction
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than relying on complex fold line designs in the bag, the guide notch provides an external intermediary structure that enforceS reliable collapse direction. This transfers the complexity from the bag design to the product case, where it is more effectively managed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces liquid waste by maintaining repeatable head pressure and preventing blockage, allowing for efficient and consistent dispensing of the remaining liquid, thereby minimizing product loss and improving the speed of service.
Implementation Method 1
The slot in the one sidewall extends a predetermined distance from a bottom of the triangular shaped notch and is configured to receive and retain the material of the fluid bag
Implementation Method 2
The floor includes an opening configured to receive an outlet nozzle of the fluid bag for draining fluid from the fluid bag by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A product case for receiving a fluid bag used in gravity based fluid dispensing systems. The product case has a floor and sidewalls that form a rectangular enclosure for the fluid bag, and a bag supporter in contact with the fluid bag. The bag supporter includes a notch formed in a top edge of one sidewall to facilitate receipt of material of the fluid bag, a slot in the one sidewall extending from a bottom of the triangular shaped notch and configured to receive and retain the material of the fluid bag, and a removable retaining wall held by support structures on a pair of the sidewalls opposing each other to divide the rectangular enclosure into a smaller enclosure. The sidewalls and the removable retaining wall constrain the fluid bag within the smaller enclosure, while the triangular shaped notch and the slot minimizes fluid bag material from covering the outlet nozzle as the fluid bag empties and provides for repeatable flow characteristics for portion control applications.